§ Mr. Ovendenasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will seek, in the current negotiations, to prevent any increase in duty-free quota levels for those imported paper products which are in 566W direct competition with home-produced products using recycled paper.
§ Mr. CryerThe need to avoid competition with home-produced products using recycled paper continues to be an important consideration. But it is a matter of judgment as to how direct is the competition in some cases, especially where a significant proportion of the national demand must be imported.
§ Mr. Ovendenasked the Secretary of State for Industry how many grants have been made to the paper industry under the Government scheme for assistance with the cost of installing machinery to utilise waste paper; what is the total value of such grants; how many applications are still under consideration; and what is the cost involved.
§ Mr. CryerBy 17th November 1977 31 applications for assistance had been approved, involving grants of £6.6 million towards total capital costs of £30.3 million. A further 18 applications are under consideration, covering assistance of £5.7 million towards total capital costs of £23.6 million.